The Ramones were a music group that formed in 1974. This is an American band based in New York. They are considered one of the most important bands that contributed to the punk rock music scene in the ’70s. The band had a trio which consisted of Joey Ramone who was the vocals and drums (Jefferey Hyman), Johnny Ramone who played guitar (John Cummings) and Dee Dee Ramone who was the bass, his real name was Douglas Colvin. Their manager was Tommy Ramone (Tom Erdelyi). All of the group’s members adopted the last name “Ramone”. They used a style when dressing which made them look like 50’s greasers. They would wear torn blues jeans and leather jackets. This was supposed to be a homage for the rockstar’s in the ’50s who had the greaser look. Eventually, Tommy would get to play in the band becoming the drums as Joey switched to becoming the lead singer. They were based in Queens, NewYork where the career would kick-off. They earned a cult following in Newyork where they would often make money by playing in underground clubs and concerts. The Ramones had an aggressive style and it was challenging and critical of the government, as of most punk rock bands. It can be inferred that their style was one of the first of its kind and true Punk music. Bands such as the Sex Pistols or The clash were heavily influenced by The Ramones and used them as a blueprint for success in this industry.
Photographed by Roberta Bayley
Gaines, Donna. Why the Ramones Matter. University of Texas Press, 2018.
From an interview with the Tomorrow Show the group said they thought of themselves as a “pure rock ‘n’ roll group” which is why they may sound different from other punk groups of the time. Though their music wasn’t very popular in the late ’70s or even the early ’80s, they did not change for anyone and would serve as an influence for other groups.
Another interview from Vox in 1986 features two members of the Ramones, where they acknowledge their lack of hits. Despite having poor results on the billboard charts, they were content with their situation. As long as they could continue to make music and do shows for others, they could care less what people thought. “Blitzkrieg Bop” is now their standout song because of its use in film, but it’s the determination and stubbornness of the Ramones that allowed that to happen.
Why Did the Song Never Take Off At The Time?
Blitzkrieg Bop was released in April 1976, however, this was a very interesting time for pop music. There are lots of songs belonging to other genres that made it to the top of the billboard charts. Therefore, the Ramones song Blitzkrieg Bop had a lot of competition. This song was not on the top 10 because the others were more receptive to the public. One very popular song that is considered legendary is Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, and even that song was only number nine on the Billboard Top 100. When Blitzkrieg Bop was released, the number one song was “Disco Lady” by Johnnie Taylor. This is as expected because in the mid to late 1970s disco was considered at its peak. It was the hottest genre. The top 5 songs were all recorded by black artists. One in specific was the Commodores, who released “Sweet Love,” and is an American funk and soul band. This is interesting to see that the charts at the time were dominated by black artists and bands. A month later it’s still the same, except Dianna Ross is now higher and at the top of the list with her song “Love Hangover.” Towards the end of the year in December Rod Stewart finished on top of the Billboard Top 100 with his song “Tonights the Night (Gonna Be Alright).”
Hasted, Nick. “Tommy Ramone’s rock’n’roll legacy should not be underestimated”. Independent, The, 2014. The Ramones. Rock’s Backpages. http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/tommy-ramones-rocknroll-legacy-should-not-be-underestimated.